Guelph Grade 7 student makes it to the final of national public speaking contest
Grade 7 student, Emmanuel Adewale and his friends gathered in the library at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Guelph, watching Adewale on the projection screen on Wednesday.
Adewale was one of 12 finalists in Speaker’s Idol, an annual Canada-wide public speaking competition.
“When I found out I was a finalist I felt very excited,” Adewale said. “I was jumping up and down and running through school.”
There were more than 200 speech submissions from across the country in this year’s competition.
Emmanuel Adewale delivers his speech. (CTV News)
Organizers of the event, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC), said the students were told to write their own speech about any human rights issue. Topics varied from mental health to domestic violence.
The speech had to relate to Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal’s quote: "Information is resistance.”
“It’s a great platform for them to really raise their voices and speak out,” said Avital Borisovsky, with FSWC.
Adewale’s subject was climate change, a topic he said he is very passionate about. He hopes his generation is a catalyst for change and said it is our responsibility to take care of the earth.
“It isn’t something we’re supposed to dump. It’s not something we’re supposed to misuse. It was a gift. And we have to treat it properly,” Adewale said.
His speech, like the other finalists, was three minutes long and pre-recorded.
“Excessive cutting down of trees known as deforestation is another major cause of climate change. That must stop,” Adewale said during his speech.
The judges gave him positive feedback and said he was informative and seemed excited to discuss the topic.
In the end, Adewale placed fifth in the elementary category.
His friends and staff at the school said they are happy for him.
“That sense of accomplishment and proudness, we certainly feel for him,” said Victoria Sheehan, principal at Sacred Heart Catholic School.
Adewale said he is proud of himself and is looking forward to writing another speech for Speaker’s Idol 2023.
Correction
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Emmanuel Adewale's grade, it has been corrected.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.